Started about 1:15, went green after 1:30, so they're about 15 laps in.

Their upcoming schedule of radio re-airs:

Feb 15 - 1:30 - The 1976 Daytona 500

Feb 16 - 12:00 - The 1988 Daytona 500

Feb 17 - 9:00 AM - The 1998 Daytona 500

Feb 18 - 12:00 - The 1979 Daytona 500..

Also, ESPN Classic is airing several Daytona 500s this week, culminating in Friday night with the 1998 race at 11pm, followed by the 99 race at 2a and the 93 race. Shorter versions of earlier ones including 79, 76 and 81 are also in the DTV guide. (DTV swapped channel location with ESPNU, apparently last fall... down at 614, it's out of sight, out of mind, even though that's not far from 603 VS or 607 Speed)

Ok so JR has to go to a back up car and will start at the end of the field on Sunday now since his position was already locked.

I really do not like NASCAR stepping in mid week to change the size of the plates to slow the cars down. I can understand safety is an issue. It is just disapointing that all of the money that was spent on research for the most anticipated race of the season is all thrown out of the window. They should have waited until Talledega to do this IMO.

Malkamaniac wrote:People were all screaming that Jr. getting the pole was fixed. I don't watch Nascar but even I find it funny that he torpedoed his own chances.

That was absolutely moronic that people were suggesting that.

To be honest though, he definitely didn't torpedo his chances. The pole at restrictor plate tracks means absolutely nothing, along with starting position. If they tune that car, which I'm sure it already is, he will be just as good as he would have been.

I bought a Honda from Cale Yarborough back in December, and he happened to be at his dealership that day. He was bringing in homemade pickles for his employees. He came and talked with my wife and I for a minute. Nice guy for a NASCAR legend.

One of these years, I'll take my sons over to Darlington. They love the Pixar movie "Cars," and there is a Doc Hudson (Hudson Hornet) in the museum next to the track. We live literally 10 minutes from the track and we're usually offered free tickets every year.

In NASCAR's mind, only the 24 and 88 would befall the penalty of to the rear of both the duel and the 500. Everyone else, such as Truex, Hamlin, Johnson, etc., have to go to the rear of the duel only. Though with the top 35 rule, all 35 are already in the race. So while I understand the rule, it will look silly if Jr manages to come from the rear to win the duel heat race, yet would still have to go to the rear for the 500. I understand it, but if the qualifying session was held, and those other backups/engine changes happened after the qualifying session, the penalty should be the same. Only it's not. And NASCAR isn't going to change it. Ought to make the race more interesting if Jr indeed has a good car for the 500.

WOW .. A NASCAR Thread.. I thought there was an unwritten law somewhere that said you couldn't be a hockey fan & NASCAR fan at the same time. lol ..

I've been a NASCAR Fan for a long time .. since this guy was around.. Harry Gant "The Skoal Bandit" !!! An old boyfriend got me interested many,many years ago .. Since 94 though it's been Jeff Gordon..Actually only been to 1 race & that was Lowe's Motor Speedway night race 2 years ago .. It was Awesome..

First duel over. What a crap race. Where's the skill of manipulating the dradt? It's just link-up as if there were 12 pairs of double-length cars. Old school racers turning in their graves watching that crap.

Puzzled why folks in the back of the lead lap didn't pit for tires on the GWC yellow.

Hope the 2nd one is better.

PS - great shot of Handsome Harry Gant. Winner of 4 races in a row after he turned 50. Think he may have had the last Winston Cup win for Oldsmobile.

superstartreatment wrote:Is anyone else not surprised that all the drivers that did not qualify for the 500 were Toyota's?

Toyota outside of Joe Gibbs Racing has been woefully inconsistent, despite Reutimann's win last season. Kyle Busch had a boffo season in 2008, 8 wins I think, but missed the chase. But I think this simply had more to do with the number of Toyotas outside the top 35 than anything else.

Still think it would be better under the old way - top 14 finishers in each duel get in (pos 3-30). Rest have to rely on speed (31-36, or 38 some years), and/or being high enough in last year's owners points for a provisional (37 or 39-42). The first year they had the top 35 rule, I think it worked out where the 7th place finisher in one of the duels didn't make the 500. Think it was Robby Gordon.

The whole top 35 rule came into being one freak race where there were so many provisionals used by drivers in the top 20 in owner points that some drivers in the mid-20s in points missed the race. Johnny Benson may have been one of them with the 10 car. (Was half right - it was 10 car but it was Scott Riggs driving it - 2nd Atlanta race in 2004 - http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2 ... MBNA_500/W - also Scott Wimmer in the Bill Davis #22, they ended up finishing 29th and 27th in the points) All told, 15 drivers missed the race, and the provisionals were used by 17 Kenseth, 15 Waltrip, 40 Marlin, 5 Labonte and 21 Rudd. In the points, they comprised the 8th, 21, 22, 24, 26. Ah, here we are. in 2004, it was 38 on time, 4 provisionals, and 1 past champion provisional. http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2004/33 ... ineup.html

They say that hard cases make bad law. Well, a hard case led to a bad rule. The old-style way meant there was an incentive to be as high in the points as possible - someone 5th in points was going to get in no matter what. The further down the list, the less certain you were. Of course, they also had 2nd round qualifying on Saturday, which opened up 26-38, for drivers to post a better time and improve their position or leave their time stand and hope for the best. I forget when the 2nd round Quals disappeared, but they were gone by this Atlanta race. This led to cases where the fastest qualifying time, and sometimes track record holders, were not the polesitter, but the 26th starter.

Should be interesting to see how the "big one" at Daytona affects the point standings, since the floor is so much lower (as a % of total points avail) than it was under the old system. Maybe their new one will work, in that if the lower positions are more painful, drivers will try harder to get higher ones?

Kind of fitting that Austin Dillon has the black 3 truck on the pole for the truck race tonight. Don't watch the trucks much, but with the grandsons of Childress and Earnhardt both in the race, and being in Daytona... it's can't miss. Then ESPN classic is reairing the 98 Daytona 500 at 11p tonight.

open up the plates, and the pairs will disappear. I just can't believe that drivers would be dropping back, losing positions on purpose. I think that aspect of it is part of what is so wrong about it. The NW race yesterday had a brief glimpse of non-2x2, on the next to last restart, before the pairs returned on the final restart. One may hope that the longer distance, combined with warmer temperatures, and the cup cars, might lead to a lessening of the pairs, but as long as the plates are there, and they allow the bump drafting now (it was no-no for a time), it will still be present. About the only thing that will change some folks minds would be some early engine failures by some of the major teams (Hendrick, RCR, Gibbs, etc.), since the new points are far less kind to 30th or worse %-wise compared to last year.

The 2 car thing makes for some insane finishes though. Its not all bad. I think most of us would like the giant 30 car packs but I'm not sure that's ever going to be possible with how smooth the track is now.